Natural Physiques Newsletter Volume I Issue 1 March 12th, 2004

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Table of Contents

1. In this Issue
2. Quotes
3. Editorial
4. What's New
5. Interview with Will Brink
6. Get Ripped with Confidence
7. Health News
8. Practice Being Like a Child
9. Business Development
10. Closing Thoughts
11. Subscription Information

1. In this Issue

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Welcome to the inaugural issue of the monthly Natural Physiques™ Newsletter! I hope you enjoy this issue, and look forward to hearing from my readers. Feel free to contact me with your comments, suggestions, and constructive feedback!

This issue begins with a few Quotes. Learn about information on the Internet in this month's editorial. Read recent articles we've published in the What's New section. Please enjoy our Interview with Will Brink, considered by many to be a leading expert in the field of supplementation. Then, you can learn how to Get Ripped with Confidence using the same software that I run when preparing for a photo shoot or trying to get lean. In fact, I am using this technique now to reach low body fat for my move to South Dakota this summer (the first week in June). Health News presents a few late-breaking studies related to nutrition and health, as well as my advice to take advantage of this research. Jim Rohn reminds us to Practice Being Like a Child in his motivational article. In Business Development, I explain various forms of income and why some may work better than others. Empower others by sharing this newsletter with friends and family!

2. Quotes

Here's what is exciting about sharing ideas with others: If you share a new idea with ten people, they get to hear it once and you get to hear it ten times. - Jim Rohn

The shortest distance between two points is now. If you wait too long to take control of your life, your goals may slip away. Physique transformation begins with the decision to change, and is characterized by the evolution of your dreams from mere aspirations to true milestones of achievement. - Jeremy Likness

I have shown you in every way by laboring like this, that you must support the weak. And remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, that He said, 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.' - Acts 20:35

3. Editorial

It's tough to find information on the Internet.

Thousands of years ago, you might have had to forget about looking up the latest research on a given topic. That is, unless you were willing to take the thousand-mile trek on horseback to the nearest library, where you could scour the hundreds of rolled parchments to find the information you were looking for. Things changed dramatically in the 15th and 16th centuries, when the print press exploded into existence and Martin Luther's words turned the church upside down. Surprisingly, as early as 1934, an Australian named Paul Otlet had envisioned (and documented) a "scholar's workstation" that consisted of millions of 3x5 cards interconnected with links into each other known as a "Universal Book." Several decades later, this book became reality when the government-funded ARPANET project formed the network upon which hyper-linked documents could reside. In a short time, the Internet was born.

At first, we loved the Internet. I remember my college days: jumping online and firing up the software called "Lynx," a text-based browser. I was amazed that I could connect to the "spiral" machine at the University of Michigan to view the weather report at home in Tampa, Florida from my dorm room in Rapid City, South Dakota. To research a specific topic, I would key in the term to WAIS, which stands for "Wide Area Information System." Searching for a term like protein, I found thesis papers and scientific documents. If I wanted to look up "fat loss," the results were clincial trials and controlled studies.

Today, at least a few search engines that are interested in information integrity will supply you with a protein data bank and several education research sites when you search for that same "protein" word. Others will simply provide you with the link to the protein powder sold by the company willing to place the highest bid on their search term. "Weight loss" is even more amusing, returning more sites that are simply links to other sites or advertisements to products than anything that will actually discuss what weight loss is or how to achieve it. So when I say it's tough to find information on the Internet, it's not for a lack of links. You will find plenty of those. The problem is with finding too many links and not knowing what to do with them! It is an age of information-overkill with plenty of misinformation to boot.

So what is the solution? Fortunately, there are several ways you can find what you are looking for. Receiving this newsletter is a start. I am committed to providing you with the best, highest quality information that I can locate. I carefully choose my contributing authors, to sift through the hype and provide you with accurate, reliable content. With the exception of the small links in the right-hand margins, which are served through an algorithm outside of my control, any products, books, or other materials linked to from my site have my approval and are backed by my personal guarantee for quality. I use the DietPower software and have tracked my body fat with the calipers and weighed myself with the scales. ISSA is the certifying body where I obtained my training and nutrition credentials.

Here are a few quick tips for searching the Internet:

• Use a search engine that ranks based on content, such as Google. Many search engines "sell" positioning, meaning some search results may not be what you are looking for, but rather what an advertiser paid for.
• Learn how to search intelligently - such as using site:.gov or site:.edu with Google to restrict your search terms. Remember, simply because a page is hosted by an educational institution or by the government does not guarantee it is accurate or correct, but you can at least filter out much of the noise in the way of advertisements or articles designed to promote products.
• Use targeted gateways, such as FindArticles.com, that will restrict your searches to respected journals and publications.
• Learn how to check references using PubMed, an online repository of journals and clinical trials.

This is by no means a comprehensive list, but I hope this helps you get started on the path to finding accurate, realistic, and relevant information on the web.

4. What's New

Featured Calculator:

Use the Calories and Gram Calculator to estimate your daily intake. The calculator is straightforward. Just enter the calories you are shooting for, the number of meals you consume each day, and the ratio of protein, carbohydrate, and fat that you want. The calculator will compute not only the number of calories and grams for each macronutrient, but the estimated amounts you will need to consume at every meal! Try it out - it may save you some time with your meal planning.

Featured Articles

• Will Brink, who is interviewed later in this newsletter, has contributed an article about joint troubles as well as a (partial) vindication of soy protein, which is often bashed in bodybuilding circles!
• John Berardi teaches us a bit about appropriate water intake.
• Renee Cloe continues to warn everyone that the scale is a springy, beady-eyed, lying menace in her article, Why the Scale Lies.
• Cory Babstock shares his incredible story of success - he has lost over 100 pounds! When he began his journey, however, he was living in denial ...
• Another great success story from Sue Gilman who decided to no longer "settle" for an average physique, and became a successful competitor as well as experienced personal trainer who has made an incredible difference in the lives of others!
• Todd Reinhard makes his debut with his colorful elucidation of the SPIKE Evolution.
• Do you have Spirit? is part auto-biography, part examination of how our faith can affect the outcome of our material pursuits. I also share my opinion of The Perfect Meal.

5. Interview with Will Brink

"There is a ton of information about weight loss on the internet, and most of it is wrong..."

"… unless people become educated consumers, they will never know the difference and will be among the ignorant masses who get suckered into throwing their money at useless supplements."

An interview with Will Brink on losing weight, his e-book "Diet Supplements Revealed", and fitness.

By Doug Chandler, MS.

Will Brink has been a well known fixture in a wide range of publications and the media, ranging from his columns in MuscleMag International to his articles in The Townsend Letter For Doctors and many in between.

He has done many interviews in newspapers, radio, and TV, and is often invited to speak at conventions and various health and fitness related symposiums around the country and abroad.

He also runs the highly popular web site, BrinkZone.com.

We briefly caught up with him to ask him few pertinent questions about diet, nutrition, fitness, his book "Diet Supplements Revealed". If there is one thing Will Brink is well known for, is he does not pull punches or beat around the bush. He tells it like it is, which is much as anything, is his trademark to those who know him.

Let's get to it!

DC: How long have you been involved in the bodybuilding, health and fitness industry?

WB: For over a decade. I'm getting old!

DC: How did you break into this industry?

WB: People kept telling me I should write articles for the magazines. I was a private trainer in the Boston area and had a good reputation for getting bodybuilders into shape. I used to do some local seminars and people kept telling me I should send in some articles to the bodybuilding magazines.

They felt I had a lot of knowledge I should share with people, so on a whim I sent in an article. After that, companies started contacting me to do consulting work and so on. One thing just seemed to build on the other. The rest as they say, is history.

DC: How important is the consumption and proper balance of omega fatty acids for losing weight and general health?

WB: In my view, extremely important, if not essential. It's a topic I have been writing about and talking about for a long time. I wrote the first article on flax oil and other lipids for fat loss in the bodybuilding mags way back when. I don't think a person can optimize fat loss or health without the proper use of EFAs, in particular, Omega-3 EFAs. [Editor's Note: Click here to see our recommendation for healthy fats]

DC: In your experience, what has been the most effective nutritional method to losing bodyfat?

WB: Higher protein, moderate fat of the right types in the right ratios, and moderate-low carbs based on the amount of lean body mass the person carries combined with smart weight training and aerobics.

The use of certain supplements can also greatly enhance the fat loss process in may ways, such as increasing metabolism or blunting hunger, but most of the products sold for that purpose are over hyped or just plain worthless.

It's about making smart choices as an educated consumer not jumping on the bandwagon for every new supplement that wants people to believe it will change their life over night.

DC: You have an e-book on the topic of fat loss supplements and diet. What is it about and who is it for and who is it not for?

WB: The book is designed to explain once and for the facts (i.e., what is it, what does it do, what does the research say, what does the real world say, dose, warnings, etc.) about the weight loss nutrients already available, not necessarily to uncover new and novel compounds never seen before.

It does not cover sub-Q yohimbine injections of forskolin enemas for example.

My feeling is that the vast majority of people out there, say better than 90%, buying supplements still don't have a clue as to what works and what does not work regarding the diet supplements that already exist.

If they did, there would not be so many bottles of junk sold now would there?

Compared to the general public, bodybuilding types are a particularly well informed group, but the rest of the world is not. The news groups and my email box, are still filled with questions about pyruvate, chitosan, DHEA, and other products, so I know confusion is still rampant.

I felt those people could really benefit from an easy to read concise look at what is on the shelves already from someone they can trust to get the straight scoop.

There is a ton of information about weight loss on the internet, and most of it is wrong.

I do feel even most well informed people will still learn a few tricks they didn't know, but the fact is, it's not a book written for the "hard core" bodybuilding crowd, per se. I am not looking for people to buy it and be unhappy, though I think most people will be pleased with the information.

It's also not a diet book, per se, but it does contain a diet and exercise plans. It's a look at weight loss nutrients combined with an easy to follow, "Ten Tip Guide to Fat Loss," and people should realize that also.

So, for well informed bodybuilder types who really know their stuff, this may not be the book for them. For the other 95% plus people in the world who are constantly bombarded with BS about these nutrients, this book will clear it all up for them. Spam off.

DC: You recently updated the book. Do you cover things like andro products and creatine?

WB: No, there would be no reason to cover such supplements in a diet related book as they are not diet or weight loss supplements. If I was going to write a book on bodybuilding supplements for gaining muscle and strength, I would cover things like andro and creatine, but this book is on supplements intended to lose fat.

What I updated the book with was new chapters, new research on other nutrients where there was any to be had, and new information and charts on topics such as the GI (glycemic index) and its role of losing weight and staying healthy, as well as other new sections.

[Editor's Note: people interested in checking out Will's book and getting a free sample of the book should click here]

DC: Some people might say they can find the same type of information on the internet for free. Is that true?

WB: The answer would have to be yes and no. Let's be honest, you can find an opinion on virtually any topic on the net. If people are buying my book, it's because they want to know my opinion and experience with these supplements and diet techniques, which can't be found any other place on the net.

The vast, and I do mean vast, majority of information and opinions on these things on the net is either wrong, or directly intended to sell you a product.

If they want an unbiased source of easy to read information on weight loss supplements written by someone who knows the industry from the inside and has a decade or so of real world experience with these products, my book will deliver that.

If they just want a basic opinion from God knows who with God knows what motive, a simple Yahoo search will accomplish that.

DC: Are carbs really as evil as the media makes them out to be?

WB: The main stream media is very pro carb really, so I don't see them making that claim. In my personal view, in addition to dealing with total calories, understanding carbs is essential to losing fat and keeping muscle, which should always be the goal of a person trying to lose weight, whether they be a bodybuilder or regular person trying to get into shape.

DC: I know you have worked with some of the worlds top athletes and military groups as well as the general population. Which do you find most satisfying?

WB: Although working with athletes is interesting, I find it most rewarding when an average person has turned their life around with information I gave them via my articles or my books.

I find it far more personally inspirational to get a letter or an email from some one who has lost 100lbs or more following my diet advice or what have you then helping an athlete break some personal goal or record.

I recently got an email from someone who lost a brother in the 911 attacks as a fire fighter. He went and became a fire fighter to follow in his brother's foot steps, and told me the information in the e-book really helped him with getting in shape to be a fire fighter. That really inspired me in a far greater way than say some athlete breaking a record.

DC: I loved your e-book Diet Supplements Revealed, so don't take this question the wrong way. A few people told me they felt the book was on the short side. Can you comment on that?

WB: Honestly I think a person might feel that way as an after effect of the marketing of the more popular diet books. My intent was to write a concise easy to read guide to weight loss supplements on the market, not to do War and Peace.

The e-book is around 200 pages. The assumption that volume is what dictates quality is sheer folly. My goal with this e-book was not to pad this product and make it as long as possible. In fact, my goal was the reverse. I wanted to put the maximum amount of information possible in the least amount of words.

If people take a good look at some of the most popular weight loss books on the market, they will find the vast majority of them contain very little actual information and literally hundreds of pages of recipes, pictures, and other information you could figure out yourself.

I took a close look at one of the most popular weight loss books that was all the rage a few years ago, and by my count it had exactly 81 pages of actual text relating to its promise of "new" information on helping people lose weight. The rest of the book-another 168 pages-was dedicated to recipes, worthless charts, pictures, and trying to sell the reader on buying the authors line of supplements.

Another issue people have to consider is that they get the updated version of the book no matter when they purchased it. "Free updates for life", in other words.

Unlike a hard copy book, every time I have updated the e-book, everyone who purchased the earlier version gets the new version, so they never have to say "I wish I had waited until the new version to buy the book" as they often do with a hard copy book.

So it does not matter if they purchased it last year, last week, or buy it tomorrow, they will have the most recent addition. In my view, that makes the e-book a bargain.

DC: OK, last question Will. If false or misleading advertising is so common in the magazines, how do they get away with it? Why do the mags print this when they know it's nonsense?

WB: The answer that is always there, money. Most of the information you will find on the 'net or magazines is 'generated' by the actual supplement companies themselves, that is, by the people who sell the stuff.

They then have this information issued via certain magazines, web sites and other publications, PR firms, etc., yet most of it is, to be blunt, pure BS. False or misleading information designed only to sell the supplements.

For the magazines, supplement companies are a major source of advertising revenue. How do I know this? Because I have been both an editor and writer for most of the top publications in the health/fitness/bodybuilding arena, have done consulting work for many of the top supplement companies.

DC: Are all supplement companies full of BS?

WB: No, but unless people become educated consumers, they will never know the difference and will be among the ignorant masses who get suckered into throwing their money at useless supplements.

I can tell you the few supplement companies and supplement company owners that are honest and want to sell a good product are as frustrated as you are over the BS that is so common.

DC: Why?

WB: Because they get lost in the shuffle and lose out to marketing based companies who spend all their money on ads versus science and well thought out formulas.

DC: Wow, quite an honest answer Will! Thanks for the great interview.

Enjoy the information.

Yours in health,

Will Brink and Internet Publications

6. Get Ripped with Confidence

In November of 2000, I flew to Evansville, Indiana for an inaugural charity event. The concept was very original. We lifted weights, summed the amount lifted, and added it for a grand "event total." The pledges we collected were donated to charity. There were weight-lifters who flew in from all over the country, but these were not competitive bodybuilders. Most of them were ordinary people who had found something extraordinary in changing their lives through physique transformation.

It was at this event that I met two people, Scott Nelson and Harry "Hank" Johnson, Jr. who I considered to be "super stars." This is because they were former champions of a competition I was also entering. These guys were honest, giving, and down-to-earth. When I asked them how they got so lean for their photo shoots, without pause, Scott opened his lap top and showed me the "secret" - a software program: The only diet software that "learns" your metabolism.

That was 4 years ago, and to this day, I am a faithful user of this program. There simply is no easier way for me to get ripped! Now, don't get me wrong. Leaning down to low body fat is not easy - not by any stretch of the imagination. I certainly owe a lot to my initial coach, David Greenwalt, for teaching me "the ropes" when it came to reaching ultra low body fat (and I recommend his services today to anyone who is struggling with losing those last few pounds that seem to be the most stubborn). Using this software is certainly not the only way to accomplish a shredded physique. It works great by providing a "calorie budget" for each day, offering more flexibility to eat what you want. I am comfortable having an occasional slice of pizza or scoop of ice cream because I can track those calories and keep my program aligned with my goals. Let me explain how!

When you first load DietPower Nutrition Software, you are asked a number of questions (height, weight, pregnant, smoke, etc.) At this point, the software is no better than a set of equations or a calculator you might find online. Once you begin using it, however, the true power begins to unfold. Each day, you log all of the foods you consume.

(Click on any of the thumbnails to pop up the full-sized images). In the first example, I enter the information for a favorite splurge meal - soy ice cream I eat occasionally. The built-in database contains thousands of foods, so it is rare that I have to actually key in a new item. What is great, though, is how the data is stored, and any time I return to that food, it will be in the database, waiting for me.

After you enter the foods, click on a special tab to see your breakdown for the day. You are able to monitor several nutrients. While the software comes pre-configured with recommended allowances (called Personal Daily Allowances) you can easily customize them to fit your own needs. In the example posted, I ate some pizza and ice cream, so the fat and sodium are through the roof. The software, however, will track how many calories I went "over" my budget, and put this in what is called a calorie bank. When the bank is negative, I know I have to eat less or exercise more (preferably a combination of the two) in order to make up for the extra food. If the calorie bank is positive, it means I still have calories that I can add to my meals. In the example, I have not done a good job of tracking my water intake. The software allows you to set your own levels for water as well, and you can base it on the level of activity performed throughout the day. While I do enjoy tracking my water from time to time, I gauge my water intake by drinking enough to have 2 or 3 clear urinations per day. That might be too much information for you, but I wanted to share that philosophy.

I also log my exercise activity. Here is where the software truly shines. By the way, if you are having trouble finding a good exercise routine, I suggest purchasing The Men's Health Book of Muscle, which is absolutely loaded with routines. Ian King is someone I have admired for a quite some time, and in this book he has truly created a dictionary of workouts for people with different needs, schedules, and abilities. You have my personal "thumbs up" that this book is high-quality and jam-packed with useful information - you should see what Ian's routines have done for me! When I first set up my profile, I entered a weight goal.

In the picture, you can see clearly what my goal is and how I should be losing weight to reach it. The red line is my actual weight - I am actually losing weight a bit faster than I would like (wouldn't more people enjoy having that "problem"). In the graph, the blue line represents the theoretical path to my goal, and the green line is what my weight would be if I continued to lose at the current rate. Remember how I mentioned at first that the guess for your metabolism was simply an equation? Well, that is how things started, but after using the tool for several days, it compared the calories I consumed to my activity levels and how my weight was actually changing. Based on this information, the software is able to compute your actual metabolism! It's actually a straightforward concept. A pound of fat contains 3500 calories. Therefore, let's say you are exercising to burn 400 calories per day, eating 2000 calories a day, and lose 1 pound in 1 week. To lose 1 pound would mean you are creating a "shortage" or "deficit" of about 500 calories per day (500 x 7 = 3500). So, take the 2000 you eat, minus the 400 you expend. That equals 1600. Since we know that you are short about 500 calories per day, this means that the calories you would use to maintain your weight would be 1600 + 500. Therefore, your "metabolism" is 2100! Sound complicated? Don't worry about it. The program tracks all of this for you. Rest assured that it is not going to simply budget a certain number of calories and then forget about you - the software constantly monitors your progress and adjusts not only your metabolic rate, but your calorie budget as well, in order to help you reach your goal.

In the image to the right, you can see how, over a few days, the software slowly nudged my metabolism based on how much I consumed and how my weight was changing. It's that simple! It is virtually impossible not to reach your goal weight using this software. It is uncanny how accurate it can be! The image to the left shows a full cycle that I did earlier in the year 2003. You can see how my weight fluctuated during the time period. However, despite this, the software continually adjusted my budget and brought me back on track. I can't imagine getting any closer to the "Bull's Eye" than what this graph shows. To read about that particular transformation and to see the before and after pictures of what I achieved, click here. Now, was that journey easy? No. I had to discipline myself. Yes, I had the occasional bite of dark chocolate and glass of red wine. But I also ate whole, unprocessed foods, plenty of vegetables and fruits, and trained consistently each and every day. As a result, using my own determination and the software, I was able to get ripped with confidence! I encourage you to read through the journal to see how I did not have to consume large amounts of protein, cut carbs down to nothing, or restrict myself from the occasional treats in order to meet my goals.

When you decide to Try DietPower FREE for 15 Days.., I have a few tips to share, based on my experience with using the software these past 3 years.

• When you first get the software, set a reasonable goal to maintain your weight or drop 1 pound in 1 week. This gives the software time to "learn" your body - I would not jump straight into a program.
• After the first week, set a new weight goal, this time based on your actual goals. I have personally dropped 3 pounds per week using this program, but I consider that aggressive. My calories were at one point very low, and I was doing a ton of cardio. A more practical goal would be to lose around 2 pounds per week for men and 1 pound per week for women (sorry, ladies, but your bodies just don't let go of fat at the same rate as men.)
• If you find your weight loss is stalling and the calories are low, it might be time to "reset" your metabolism. Set a new weight goal: maintain your weight for one week. This will automatically bump your calories, without you having to worry about adding fat. Once you have gone a full week at a maintenance level, set yet another goal to begin losing fat at the desired rate once again.
• For particularly stubborn fat loss, try zig-zagging your calories. The software makes this extremely easy. When you over-eat, calories are deducted from your calorie bank. When you under-eat, they are added to it. To zig-zag calories, simply alternate between adding your bodyweight in calories to the calorie bank, then going back and cleaning the bank. For example, if I weigh 200 pounds with a 2000 calorie budget, the first day I might eat 1800 calories. This will put 200 in the bank. The next day, I will eat 2200 calories. This will meet my budget and take away the 200 in the bank. I am still "averaging" my target of 2000 calories, but I am doing it by fluctuating my calories. This keeps my metabolism from slowing down as quickly, and allows for prolonged fat loss.
• If your goal is to gain muscle, set the software to add 1 pound every 1 - 2 weeks. By only adding weight slowly, you ensure that you are adding more quality muscle, instead of simply rapid fat gain.
• Looking for a great routine and nutrition plan to combine with the software? I have heard so much positive feedback about Tom Venuto's latest e-Book, Burn the Fat, Feed the Muscle, that I just had to purchase it myself. First, I was blown away by the amount of materials he provided - I thought I was simply ordering a book, but I received more than 5 downloads! Not only that, this information is awesome. I have not read the book in its entirety, but I already love what I have skimmed through! It looks like the perfect component to complete a comprehensive fat-loss program. I will post a review once I finish reading it!

Please don't hesitate to contact me if you have any questions about using the software. I highly recommend it for those looking to manage their weight or drop pounds for the summer. Now go out and get shredded!

7. Health News

Fruit and Cereal Fiber May Reduce Cardiovascular Disease Risk

In a recently published study, researchers from Harvard and the University of Minnesota analyzed data from 10 prospective studies, involving 91,058 men and 245,186 women, from the U.S. and Europe to investigate whether the type of dietary fiber affected coronary heart disease (CHD) risk. The researchers found a 14% decrease in risk from all CHD events, and a 27% decreased risk of coronary death for each 10 gram/day increase in dietary fiber. There was an even stronger association between cereal and fruit fiber and CHD risk (vegetable fiber intake was not associated with reduced risk of CHD incidence or mortality in this group). The results were similar for both men and women.

Many studies have shown that dietary fiber may reduce the risk of CHD through a variety of mechanisms. However, few epidemiological studies of dietary fiber intake and risk of CHD have compared fiber types (cereal, fruit, and vegetable) or included gender-specific results. Conclusion: A diet that is rich in varied fiber sources, especially from cereal grains and fruit, is associated with a reduced risk in coronary heart disease.

Pereira MA, O'Reilly E, Augustsson K et al. Dietary fiber and risk of coronary heart disease: a pooled analysis of cohort studies. Arch Intern Med. 2004 Feb 23;164(4):370-6

Antioxidants Appear to Protect Against Type 2 Diabetes

Jukka Montonen of the National Public Health Institute in Helsinki, Finland, and team, tracked dietary habits and type 2 diabetes incidence among more than 4,000 adults over a period of 23 years. The investigators found that subjects who consumed diets rich in foods containing antioxidants, notably carotenoids (compounds found in red, yellow & orange fruits & vegetables), and certain forms of vitamin E--were less likely to develop the disease. By neutralizing the cell-damaging effects of free radicals, antioxidants such as vitamin E and carotenoids may play a role in reducing the incidence of type 2 diabetes.

Montonen J, Knekt P, Jarvinen R, Reunanen A. Dietary anti oxidant intake and risk of type 2 diabetes. Diabetes Care. 2004 Feb;27(2):362-6.

Antioxidants and Physical Performance in the Elderly

Some researchers suggest that age-related physical decline may be in part related to oxidative damage caused by free radicals. In a recent study, 986 Italians over 65 years of age were studied for a relationship between physical performance and oxidative stress. Physical performance was assessed on the basis of walking speed, ability to rise from a chair, standing balance and knee extension strength. Intakes of vitamin C, vitamin E, beta-carotene and retinol were measured, as were plasma alpha and gamma tocopherol levels. Plasma alpha-tocopherol was significantly correlated with knee extension strength and the total physical performance score. Plasma gamma-tocopherol was only associated with knee extension strength. Of the daily dietary intake measures, vitamin C and beta-carotene were significantly correlated with knee extension strength, and vitamin C was significantly associated with physical performance. In conclusion, plasma antioxidant concentrations correlated positively with physical performance and strength. Higher dietary intakes of most antioxidants, especially vitamin C, appear to be associated with higher skeletal muscular strength in elderly persons.

Cesari M, Pahor M, Bartali B et al. Antioxidants and physical performance in elderly persons: the Invecchiare in Chianti (InCHIANTI) study. Am J Clin Nutr 2004;79:289-94.

Asthma Prevalence in Youth Linked to Serum Antioxidant Levels

The relationship of serum vitamin E, beta-carotene, vitamin C, and selenium to asthma was investigated among 7,505 youth (4-16 years old) in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES III). Serum vitamin E had little or no association with asthma. In the youth with increased levels of beta-carotene, vitamin C or selenium, there was a 10-20% decrease in asthma prevalence. There was even a stronger correlation between selenium levels and asthma in youth exposed to tobacco smoke. Those who had higher levels of selenium and were exposed to passive smoke had a 50% reduction in asthma prevalence compared with a 10% reduction in youth with no smoke exposure. These findings support an association of antioxidants with prevalent asthma, especially among youth chronically exposed to second hand smoke.

Rubin RN, Navon L, Cassano PA Relationship of serum antioxidants to asthma prevalence in youth. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 2004 Feb 1;169(3):393-8.

A Note on Pharmaceutical Grade Supplementation

It seems every day a news headline flashes by and demonstrates how powerful antioxidants are for general health. Unfortunately, most people are not well-educated regarding the benefits of multi-vitamins and therefore "settle" for far less than what their body deserves. Research is typically performed in a quality environment where the ingredients tested are high potency: when the research reports a specific amount, you can be certain that is well within the range of what was indicated. Are supplements that you take off a supermarket shelf subject to the same standard of quality? The answer is NO! The supplement industry is only loosely regulated, and many manufacturers choose to avoid quality control processes. Some use their own, proprietary techniques that are not verified by third parties. Often when they embrace what is known as General Manufacturing Practices (GMP), they adhere to the "food" standard, which is far less stringent than the "pharmaceutical" standard. You can read more about these standards by clicking here.

There is a great guide to multi-vitamins called the Comparative Guide to Nutritional Supplements by Lyle MacWilliams, B.Sc., M.Sc., FP. Lyle is a former Canadian Member of Parliament and Member of the Legislative Assembly for British Columbia. His book not only introduces the importance of antioxidants, but has several chapters explaining how they impact health. It covers the research behind vitamins and minerals. Most importantly, Lyle pulled together a panel of leading nutritionists (all doctors) to find the recommended levels for optimal health. This was called the "Blended Standard" and over 1000 multi-vitamins were compared against the standard. Only 500 made the cut, and of these, only 5 ranked in the 90th percentile or higher! Lyle published the scores for these top 500 in his book.

If your vitamin scored in the top 10%, that is fantastic! Congratulations for taking steps to protect your health - the monthly investment in a pharmaceutical-grade multi-vitamin is, in my opinion, a true health insurance policy. If your multi-vitamin is not superior quality, or if you are not currently taking a multi-vitamin, then I encourage you to click here to appreciate the value of the multi-vitamins I sell (it took me 4 years to find a company with this level of quality and integrity), and then contact me or call toll-free 1-888-472-2829 to place your order and get started right away! Your health is precious, and I would not ask you to invest in something so important without offering the opportunity risk-free. Our products adhere to pharmaceutical-grade GMP, come with a potency guarantee that what is on the label is in the bottle, and are backed by a 100% 30-day money-back guarantee.

8. Practice Being Like a Child

Remember the master teacher once said 2000 years ago, “Unless you can become like little children, your chances are zero, you haven’t got a prayer.” A major consideration for adults.

Be like children and remember there are four ways to be more like a child no matter how old you get –

1. Curiosity - Be curious. Childish curiosity. Learn to be curious like a child. What will kids do if they want to know something bad enough? You’re right. They will bug you. Kids can ask a million questions. You think they’re through. They’ve got another million. They will keep plaguing you. They can drive you right to the brink.
   Also kids use their curiosity to learn. Have you ever noticed that while adults are stepping on ants, children are studying them? A child’s curiosity is what helps them to reach, learn and grow.
2. Excitement - Learn to get excited like a child. There is nothing that has more magic than childish excitement. So excited you hate to go to bed at night. Can’t wait to get up in the morning. So excited that you’re about to explode. How can anyone resist that kind of childish magic? Now, once in awhile I meet someone who says, “Well, I’m a little too mature for all that childish excitement.” Isn’t that pitiful? You’ve got to weep for these kinds of people. All I’ve got to say is, “If you’re too old to get excited, you’re old.” Don’t get that old.
3. Faith - Faith like a child. Faith is childish. How else would you describe it? Some people say, “Let’s be adult about it.” Oh no. No. Adults too often have a tendency to be overly skeptical. Some adults even have a tendency to be cynical. Adults say, “Yeah. I’ve heard that old positive line before. It will be a long day in June before I fall for that positive line. You’ve got to prove to me it’s any good.” See, that’s adult, but kids aren’t that way. Kids think you can get anything. They are really funny. You tell kids, “We’re going to have three swimming pools.” And they say, “Yeah. Three. One each. Stay out of my swimming pool.” See, they start dividing them up right away, but adults are not like that. Adults say, “Three swimming pools? You’re out of your mind. Most people don’t even have one swimming pool. You’ll be lucky to get a tub in the back yard.” You notice the difference? No wonder the master teacher said, “Unless you can become like little children, your chances, they’re skinny.”
4. Trust - Trust is a childish virtue, but it has great merit. Have you heard the expression “sleep like a baby”? That’s it. Childish trust. After you’ve gotten an A+ for the day, leave it in somebody else’s hands.

Curiosity, excitement, faith and trust. Wow, what a powerful combination to bring (back) into our lives.

To Your Success,

Jim Rohn

This article was submitted by Jim Rohn, America's Foremost Business Philosopher. To subscribe to the Free Jim Rohn Weekly E-zine go to:
http://www.naturalphysiques.com/friends/jim-rohn.html

Copyright © 2000 Jim Rohn International. All rights reserved worldwide.

9. Business Development

The majority of people in the world receive what is known as earned income. There is nothing wrong with earned income. In fact, the obvious demand for this form of service is demonstrated by its prevalence in the marketplace. However, there are other forms of income that can work to your advantage. It is not necessarily a question of replacing one form of income with another, but rather to look at having Multiple Streams of Income. The link is to a book by Robert G. Allen that does a fantastic job of explaining this concept.

This month, I am going to define other methods for generating income. In future issues, we will learn about these in more detail.

• Leveraged income is income that grows in proportion to the effort you put into it. With earned income, you must work to receive your pay. When you stop working, you stop earning. The growth of your income is linear - if you wish to receive double pay, you must work double time. In fact, many people today are salaried employees who do not even enjoy the benefit of extra pay for extra hours worked! With leveraged income, you are able to amplify your effort. For example, if you have a particular skill that you are paid to teach, you are earning your income each time you teach. By teaching to a group instead of an individual, you may be able to leverage your time - you can now charge each individual, but only perform the lesson once. To take this a step further, you would record your lessons on a video. The initial effort is put into making the video, but you leverage that effort each time you sell a copy (as you do not have to give the entire presentation over again - you simply package and ship the video!).
• Passive income is income that comes to you without any work. An example of passive income would be the purchase of a rental property. Let's say you invest in a property and pay a property management company. Each month, you receive a check for $200 above what it costs to pay the management company and the mortgage for the property. This is passive income - income you receive without putting forth any effort. Some passive income may start out as leveraged income. A book is a great example of this. The initial effort to write a book is monumental. As you market the book, you are leveraging the fact it is already written to receive profits from sales. If the book becomes a top-seller, you could then sit back and enjoy the passive income from the profits due to sales.
• Residual income is a combination of leveraged and passive income. The best example of residual income is a multi-level marketing or network marketing business. You leverage your efforts initially by sharing the company with others and coaching a team to build their own organization. If you do a great job of helping others become successful, they may go out and begin to build a larger organization of their own. Depending on the structure of your business, you may receive commissions from their efforts - this is residual income because it comes to you as the result of your initial efforts to build that successful team. However, now you can take a vacation or stop working, and still receive the benefit of a paycheck, because instead of trading your time for money, you chose to leverage your time to create residual and passive income!

I encourage you to do further research on your own into these alternate streams of income to find out how they may help you. At Natural Physiques™ there is a Personal Development section with recommendations and resources for you to learn from.

10. Closing Thoughts

Whew! I hope you enjoyed the inaugural issue of the Natural Physiques™ newsletter! If you found this information to be useful, please don't hesitate to share it with your friends. We appreciate your feedback and suggestions for content in future issues. Take care!

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